S V Venugopalan
"THE law barks at all, but bites only the poor, the underprivileged, the powerless, the illiterate, the ignorant". The renowned legal scholar Justice V R Krishna Iyer once expressed sentiments of profound agony, pain, and anger, which resonate strongly when considering the recent actions of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). The GCC's authorities have launched a harsh crackdown on small, struggling street vendors across Chennai, labeling their businesses as 'encroachments.' This oppressive measure, supported by police forces, has targeted vendors who have operated their small shops in the same locations for over thirty years. The officials displayed a complete disregard for the voices of the vendors, offering no opportunity for dialogue or understanding. The destruction and losses inflicted are immense and irreversible.
The unrelenting and brutal attack on the line of shops along NSC Bose Road in the Flower Bazaar area was devastating. One vendor, Krishnaveni, overwhelmed by the destruction of her livelihood, collapsed in despair and was later pronounced dead. The situation near Egmore railway station was equally dire, with police officers exceeding even the corporation officials in their zeal. Their rapid and heartless demolition of the shops left the vendors in a state of utter shock and distress.
At T Nagar near Kodambakkam railway station, the Corporation officials were even more ruthless. They silenced anyone who dared to protest, threatening imprisonment for those who questioned their actions. Despite the pleas and desperate prostrations of women vendors asking for a brief reprieve to collect their belongings, the official coldly refused any delay and proceeded to demolish the shops with relentless force. In a particularly cruel twist, they even destroyed a tailor's shop run by a differently-abled individual, which had been legally protected by a court order.
The swift and successive actions taken by GCC officials across various zones resulted in immediate protests from the area committees of the CPI(M) Central Chennai. District secretary G Selva and other Party functionaries quickly arrived at the scenes, heard the grievous atrocities committed by the officials as recounted by the affected vendors. Protest demonstrations and rallies were promptly organised by shopkeepers on NSC Bose Road, in Egmore, and Kodambakkam.
These events garnered significant media attention, highlighting the profound impact on street vendors who have provided essential services to Chennai's middle and lower-income residents for decades. The CPI(M) and CITU have long raised the rights of street vendors, dating back to the 1970s, engaging in numerous struggles to protect their livelihoods and secure their places of business. The deep, affectionate relationship between these vendors and the local community has been a cornerstone of urban life. However, under the current neoliberal policies, this vital connection and the livelihoods of ordinary citizens are at risk of being irrevocably severed.
Several cases have been filed by organizations representing street vendors, leading to a prolonged legal struggle. Their cause has been represented by CPI(M) members of the legislative assembly and presented to the state government. As a result of these efforts, the Supreme Court recognised street vending as a livelihood issue and directed the adoption of a central legislation. Consequently, the parliament enacted the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. This Act formalises the protection and regulation of street vendors' livelihoods, establishing clear guidelines for the formation of vending committees to identify vending locations, oversee activities, and manage evictions under specific conditions.
However, the actions of the officials in these cases suggest either a lack of awareness or a blatant disregard for the provisions of this Act.
A delegation of CPI(M) Central Chennai leaders met with the mayor of the GCC, demanding action against officials who had violated the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act and acted with apparent vested interests against the livelihoods of poor vendors. As there was no positive response from the mayor, the district committee of Central Chennai resolved to hold a special street conference to publicly address these grievances and advocate for the restoration of vending rights.
Thousands of pamphlets detailing the severe impact on the livelihoods of street vendors were distributed throughout the district. Despite a heavy downpour, a dynamic street conference was held in Pursawalkam on August 6, where a substantial number of vendors and their families gathered to voice their concerns and demand their rights.
Challenging the highhanded actions of GCC officials and police authorities, G Selva, the district secretary, assured the street vendors that the Party would steadfastly support them in defending their rights, despite any threats. He highlighted that, due to the Party's backing, vendors on NSC Bose Road and in Egmore had managed to resettle and resume their businesses in the same locations.
Veteran CITU functionary M V Krishnan recounted the long and arduous struggles fought for the rights of street vendors. Thiruvettai, district secretary of CITU, reaffirmed that the Party would continue to stand by the vendors, ready to defend them. Advocate Thirumurthy criticised the lawbreakers who flouted the well-established provisions of the 2014 Act and pledged the support of the legal community to the vendors' cause.
The conference adopted resolutions calling for the appointment of vending committees as outlined in the 2014 Act, an immediate halt to the eviction of street vendors, and the establishment of a redressal committee comprised of experts, including a civil court judge or judicial magistrate. The attendees emphasised that the parliament had enacted a special law to protect the livelihoods of millions of street vendors nationwide, a law that is being disrespected and disregarded by local officials. The conference underlined the urgent need to raise nationwide awareness and mobilise support to defend street vendors, from major cities to municipal and panchayat levels, in accordance with the spirit of the 2014 Act.
In his concluding address, K Balakrishnan, state secretary of the CPI(M), questioned why police authorities, who aggressively target vulnerable street vendors, show no similar urgency in addressing drug mafias or criminal gangs. He asserted that the Party advocates for strict adherence to the law and argued that authorities should not evict struggling street vendors under the guise of city beautification. Balakrishnan called for the establishment of a state-level regulatory authority to ensure proper implementation of the 2014 Act and assured the vendors that the Party would vigorously pursue their cause with the government.
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